Signal device.



H. C. THIEL.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1917.

' Patented Jan. 1,1918.

nalarrlvvlllrl zl HENRY C. THIEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 1, 1918.

Application filed March 6, 1917. Serial No. 152,704.

matter of the present application for patent is designed for use in connectionwith autof'mobiles and other vehiclesjto indicate to the trafiic to the rear of the vehicle the fact that the driver is about to "make a turn or to bring'the vehicle to a stop, and thus eliminate or reduce to a minimum the liability of rear end collisions and other accidents.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple, reliable and easily controlled visual signal device of the kind stated, and to this end it consists in a novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing 'forming a part of this specification and in said drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective-view of the device with certain parts removed, and

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section thereof.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 denotes a lamp casing which is carried by a suitable bracket 6 mounted at any convenient place on the rear end of the vehicle so as to face rearwardly. The lamp casing has a lens face, this lens not being shown in Fig. 1 in order that a better view of the interior of the lamp casing may be had. As shown in Fig. 2, the lenssis divided into upper and lower sections 7 and 8, respectively, the former being green and the latter red. These two differently colored lens sections are divided by a cement film 9 to prevent blending of the two difi'erently colored light rays.

The casing 5 contains a standard incandescent electric lamp 10 obtaining current from any suitable source.-

In line with the dividing line 9 between the lens sections 7 and 8, the lamp'casing 5 contains a horizontal partition 11 which divides the easing into upper'and lower-compartments. The lamp 10 is located in the lower compartment. The partition 11 is hinged to the rear wall of the lamp casing, as shown at 12 so that it may be swung up- -nated.

Ward as shown dotted in Fig. 2, inwhich position, the light rays from the lamp 10 pass into the upper compartment and the upper lens section 7 is illuminated. lVhen the partition is down, the upper compartment is shut off from the lamp 10, and the lens section 7 receives no light, the lower lens section 8 only being now illuminated. The lamp casing contains a ledge 13 on which the partition rests when it is down.

.The hinge 12 of the partition 11 is a rod journaled in the side walls of the lamp casing 5 and "extending across the casing on the inside thereof near its rear wall. The partition is suitably fastened at its rear edgeto the rod, and by a coiled spring 14 .it is held normally in lowered position seating on the ledge 13'. 1

The. hinge rod 12 projects at both ends from the lamp casing 5, and one end has a crank bend 15, whereas its other end carries an indicator in the form of a flat plate 16 containing the inscription Stop. This indicator is so positionedon the hinge rod that it faces downward when the partition 11 is down, and when the partition is swung upward the indicator also swings into upright position to display the inscription, as' shown dotted in Fig. 1.

A suitable actuating line 17 is connected to the crank arm 15, the same leading to and being connected to the brake pedal of the car so that the signal is operated when the brake is applied. Of course, the signal may also be operated manually.

The bottom of the lamp casing has a glazed sight opening 18 so that a license tag mounted beneath the lamp may be illumi- Normally, the'partition 11 is down and thelamp 10 shines through the lower lens section 8 only. The indicator 16 is also down. When the driver wishes to make a turn or a stop, the application of the brake, or a manual action of the connection 17 swings the partition upward, and also pl? as the indicator upright in display position. The light rays now enter the upper half of the lamp casing and a green light is flashed at the same time with the red light as a warning to the trailic behind the car. The indicator 16 will also be sufficiently illuminated from the lamp, but it is intended more The lamp may have a lateral sight opening shown dotted at 19 in Fig. 1 to illuminate the indicator 16. Upon releasing the connection 17 the spring 14 restores the parts to their normal position.

1. A signal device comprising a lamp casing having a lens face divided into two differently colored sections, a movable partition in the casing and dividing the same into separate compartments, one of the lens sections coinciding with one compartment, and the other lens section coinciding with the other compartment, a light source in one of the compartments, and means for moving the partition to place the compartments in communication. I

2. A signal device comprising a lamp casing having a lens face divided into two differently colored sections, a movable partition in the casing and dividing the same into separate compartments, one of the lens sections coinciding with one compartment, and the other lens section coinciding with the other compartment, a light source in one of the compartments, and means for moving the partition to place the compartments in communication, saidpartition being nor- 'mally in line with the dividing linebetween the lens sections.

3. A signal device comprising a lamp casing having a lens face divided into two differently colored sections, a movable partition in the casing and dividing the same into separate compartments, one of the lens sections coinciding with one compartment and the other lens section coinciding with the other compartment, a light source in one of the compartments, means for moving the .the other cgmpartment, a light source in one of the compartments, means for moving the partition to place the compartments in communication, a rod journaled in the M11 of i the lamp casing and carrying the partition,

one end of the rod projecting from the lamp casing, an indicator carried by said project-- ing end of the rod, and actuating means for the rod.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. I

HENRY o. 'rHrEL. 

